Some oral contraceptives (“the pill”) increase blood pressure in a small proportion of women. For this reason, measurements of blood pressure I should be made at regular intervals. Although some contraceptive tablets have little influence on pressure, it is usually preferable for patients with high blood pressure to practise other … The Pill and PregnancyRead more
What causes high blood pressure?
In over nine patients out of ten with high blood pressure no underlying disease can be found. The term “essential hypertension” is sometimes used in this case. This absence of a cause is not as surprising as might appear at first sight. Blood pressure, like height or weight, is the … What causes high blood pressure?Read more
What is normal blood pressure?
For a young person a typical reading might be 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. These values are expressed in millimetres of mercury and it is conventional to record the values as systolic/diastolic e.g, 120/80. Blood pressure in an individual is not a fixed property but varies from minute to are … What is normal blood pressure?Read more
Measuring blood pressure
Pressures are usually measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A cuff containing a rubber balloon is placed around the upper arm and inflated to a pressure above the systolic so that no blood can get through. Pressure in the cuff is then slowly released while an observer listens over … Measuring blood pressureRead more
Systolic and diastolic pressure
The heart is not a continuous pump. It beats and then relaxes. Each heart-beat produces a pressure wave. The peak or maximum of this wave is I called the systolic pressure and the trough or lowest point between beats is the diastolic pressure. The height of the systolic pressure is … Systolic and diastolic pressureRead more
What does this mean?
The term “blood pressure” is applied to the pressure of blood in the arteries, which conduct blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The circulation requires pressure to maintain the flow of blood. Post Views: 109
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (or “hypertension” as it is called by doctors) is a common condition which affects between one in five and one in ten of the population, particularly in middle age. The rest of the population has a normal blood pressure. Post Views: 79
What is Preface
This chapter, written by the British Hypertension Society, aims to present the basic facts about one of the most common disorders of Western Society. High blood pressure is a puzzling condition for many as it only rarely makes people feel ill. Quite reasonably, therefore, patients in apparently good health ask … What is PrefaceRead more
For Further Reading:
Food should be fun a booklet available from the British Heart Foundation. The Light-Hearted Cookbook by Anne Lindsay (Grub Street in association with the British Heart Foundation £9.95) available from most good book shops or from BHF’s mail order catalogue at Heart Cards Ltd, FREEPOST, PO Box 45, Burton upon … For Further Reading:Read more
PATIENTS AT INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE
Patients with High Blood Cholesterol For most people the level of blood cholesterol is the result of both diet and lifestyle. If the level is high then it is particularly important to maintain ideal weight, take regular exercise, eat a diet which is low in fat (particularly saturated fat) and … PATIENTS AT INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASERead more